(WP) Ditch the Road Map. Just Get There, Already

[bemildred]

Uh, I predict the current GOI and PNA will not like this.

The current Israeli-Palestinian peace process relies on a step-by-step
approach, which is destined to fail. Moreover, its goal is final status negotiations,
which are unlikely to succeed.

---

The United States should, together with the United Nations, the European Union,
Russia, and Arab and Muslim nations, put forward a comprehensive,
non-negotiable final agreement that would resonate with the Israeli and
Palestinian people, addressing the vital needs on both sides. The outlines of
such a plan are familiar. It would not be concocted outside the region; it would
grow out of the history of the parties' negotiations.

The plan would include a U.S.-led international mandate to administer the
territory that will make up the Palestinian state. As a result, implementation would
not require either side to rely on the other's good faith. International forces would
guard borders, supervise the Palestinian security forces' maintenance of law
and order, and take control of land from which Israel withdraws. The United
States would be the ultimate arbiter, transferring land to Palestinian sovereignty
when appropriate. Israel would be offered membership in NATO and a U.S.
defense treaty, and U.S. and European security guarantees would be extended
to the Palestinian state.

Washington would next do the unexpected. It would not seek the agreement of
the Israeli or Palestinian leadership. It would invite them to put the plan directly
to their respective peoples. Both the government of Israel and the Palestinian
Authority are more than willing to say no to one another. Each also is capable of
turning down a U.S. plan. But, at a time of such high danger, on what basis could
they rebuff the simple and straightforward request to check whether their own
people are prepared to live with a U.S.-led, internationally backed solution?

Wash. Post

[comradebillyboy]

1. good idea whos time has not come

need a lot more dead people first.

[Darranar]

2. I'm not sure I can accept this solution...

It seems a bit too paternalistic for me. But giving it a try won't make anything worse than it already is, of course...

[bemildred]

5. Eh, it was different. I thought I'd post it.

Sometimes children need parents to help out.

[Darranar]

6. But in this situation, it won't help...

the same way it didn't help to go into Iraq and remove Saddam because the US supposedly knew what was best for the Iraqis.

The only road to peace that I can see is a cracking down on extremists and extremist policies by both sides. the question is how that would happen.

[bemildred]

7. Well defined borders with well founded governments

and international peacekeepers/monitors up the wazoo
might help. It appears to me that the Israeli government
has political issues with reining in its crazies, and the
PNA isn't up to or interested in the job. Meanwhile bystanders
on both sides are being rubbed out daily.

[Darranar]

8. Yes...

but I doubt that armed peacekeeprs would solve anything. Humanitarian aid to the Palestinians that doesn't have to pass through crooks like Arafat might help greatly.

[bemildred]

9. Hey, they get to vote on it.

Majority rules.

[Darranar]

10. So?

If you were offered the choice between injustice and peace or no peace but perhaps justice eventually, which would you choose?

It's a hard question, but giving them a choice between peace and justice or no peace and no justice would be preferable - though perhaps its impossible.

[bemildred]

11. I generally like fewer people being rubbed out.

I see nothing wrong, in principle, with coming up with
a plan and letting both peoples vote it in or out. Sounds
downright democratic. You can demand majorities on both
sides or it dies.

[The Magistrate]

12. It Does Seem Likely, My Friend

Only force majuer from the outside could impose a settlement acceptable to both peoples: let their governments hang....

[bemildred]

14. It does seem clear that the current crop of "leaders"

and I use the term loosely, will not do much on their own.

And, while I do see the merit of Mr. Darranar's misgivings
about outside enforcers, they might serve to interrupt the
current cycle of retaliation long enough to effect some
improvement, to offer a respite for the governments, to allow
more people to come to their senses.

[The Magistrate]

16. Another Benefit Of It, Sir

Is that it gives the local leaders some political cover against their extremists: they can point to the tanks outside and say, you see, I had to....

[Darranar]

13. Better choices is still better...

though that plan is certainly better than the now-tattered and dying road map.

[bemildred]

15. The perfect is the enemy of the good, as they say.

Those of us who "liked" the road map mostly did so because
there was nothing else. The same would apply here, I would
think. There is no question this would be better solved without
outside intervention, as long as solved means settled without
further violence.

[chapter32]

3. A “Figurehead” Free Diet?

No more “Abbas” type figurehead in the ingredient?

[comradebillyboy]

4. eventually peace will have to be imposed from outside

as there is little chance that the parties will come to a reasonable agreement on their own.

[jos]

17. Good proposal

There's a great deal of wisdom in the proposal. Israel must take the first step by getting out of the west bank and gaza, to be replaced by an international force.